Buffs Win Big in Texas Intercollegiate Press Association Competition

Contact: Dr. Nancy Garcia, 806-651-2414, ngarcia@wtamu.edu

Photo: Alyssa Gonzales, right, senior journalism major of Lubbock, won five Texas Intercollegiate Press Association awards. Emily Miller, left, also won one TIPA award. Also pictured is Dr. Nancy Garcia, assistant professor of media communication and adviser of "The Prairie."

CANYON, Texas — West Texas A&M University Department of Communication students earned a dozen awards from the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association.

WT students working with The Prairie, 1910 PR and Buffalo Advertising collected wins in TIPA categories ranging from news and sports to advertising and public relations.

In all, WT brought home three first-place wins; four second-place awards; three third-place honors; and two honorable mentions. (Full list below.)

Senior journalism major Alyssa Gonzales of Lubbock, the editor-in-chief of The Prairie, led the way with five of the awards.

The Buffs’ accomplishments at TIPA highlight the academic excellence encouraged of students as part of WTAMU’s long-term plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.

List of TIPA Winners 2021

Advertising Campaign (Division 2, Division 3, Division 4)

• First Place: Buffalo Advertising, Adobe Does it Differently
• Third Place: Mason Curry (Canyon), Ellie Boyett (Amarillo), Potter/Randall County Medical Society Alliance

Blog (Division 1, Division 2, Division 3, Division 4, Division 5)

• Honorable Mention: 1910 PR & Lily Gamble (Amarillo), 1910 PR Blog

Breaking News (Division 4)

• Third Place: Rafael Flores (Amarillo), “Fake News Tarnishes a New Religious Group”

Critical Review (Division 4)

• Second Place: Alyssa Gonzales (Lubbock), “The Tiger King Causes an UpRoar”

General Column (Division 4)

• Second Place: Emily Merrill (Fort Davis), “Being Purple in the Fight Between Red and Blue”
• Honorable Mention: Skylerr Patterson (Electra), “Negative Effects of a Heavy Workload”

General News (Division 4)

• First Place: Skylerr Patterson (Electra), “How International Students are Being Affected by COVID-19”

General News Audio Story (Division 3, Division 4, Division 5)

• Second Place: Alyssa Gonzales (Lubbock), “2020 Election”

Sports Column (Division 4, Division 5)

• Second Place: Alyssa Gonzales (Lubbock), “The Curious Case of the Empty Bleachers”
• Third Place: Alyssa Gonzales (Lubbock), “The Team Supporting the Buffs”

Sports Game Story (Division 4, Division 5)

• First Place: Alyssa Gonzales (Lubbock), “Esports Play on While Staying Safe”

About the WTAMU Department of Communication

The WTAMU Department of Communication houses two undergraduate programs: communication studies and media communication, with three areas of emphasis in each program, as well as the option to seek teacher certification in speech or journalism. The master’s program offers two areas of emphasis: one in Communication and one in Media Management. Both can be completed online. For more information on the department, visit wtamu.edu/academics/college-fine-arts-humanities/department-communication/index.html.

About West Texas A&M University

WT is located in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. With enrollment of more than 10,000, WT offers 60 undergraduate degree programs, 40 master’s degrees and two doctoral degrees. The University is also home to the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the largest history museum in the state and the home of one of the Southwest’s finest art collections. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 15 men’s and women’s athletics programs.

—WTAMU—